THE CHILDREN'S SWEETNESS

In the early days of wilderness life the children of Israel had both sweet water and sweet food. No doubt the water was so called because it had before been too nasty to drink even after three days of thirst! The people called the name of the place "Marah" meaning 'bitter'. If they had been a little more patient and waited for God to act for them they could have named it "Naomi", meaning 'pleasant'. How often we think more of our troubles than of God's perfect answer to them. Moses was shown a special wood to cast into the waters - probably a salty marsh of the Red Sea - and they were made sweet. One of the lessons for believers is that Jesus in His suffering humanity and in dying for us has tasted every kind of sorrow and trial that we may meet with.

The manna was a food from heaven which gave the people all they needed through their long journey. You can imagine the surprise of the children on first going out of their tents after the heavy morning dew to see what looked like white seeds or frost crystals all over the ground. Although told that this was "the bread which Jehovah has given you to eat" the people still always called it "Manna" meaning 'what is it?' This must have been more in wonder at God's goodness than in ignorance and would encourage everyone to enquire about it.

The taste of the manna was like cakes with honey so that it gave the nourishment of bread and was always sweet. You will remember that the apostle Paul often wrote words like "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you" so that we find special strength and sweetness in feeding our souls and spirits on Christ as a lowly and obedient Man when here on earth.

Besides providing good things for us God looks for sweetness from His children. Once He said in sorrow "Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money". But think of the joy of being able to yield pleasure to His taste by some sacrifice on our part! At another time He said in a questioning way of one of His own "Is he a child of delights?" Well then, let us just put our own name in and be able to answer 'Yes, I am'.

But our lives are not naturally sweet to God because of selfishness, pride, envy and unbelief: nor will effort alone make them so any more than much stirring of a cup of tea without sugar. But the true sweetness - the love of Jesus - dissolving and spreading in us is the only answer to our need. Then by the Holy Spirit, given to the obedient believer, the stirring that was useless before is now absolutely necessary. Do you try to please the God who has so blessed you?

J.C.Evershed

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